California Balcony Inspection Law: A Comprehensive Guide (2025)

California’s Balcony Inspection Laws should be on your radar if you own a building with three or more units and elevated exterior elements six feet or higher, such as balconies, decks, or stairwells.
While the date for initial inspections was recently extended from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, you should be planning how to remain compliant with these new and extremely important standards.
In this comprehensive guide, we explain everything you need about the California Balcony Inspection Laws, SB721 and SB326, so you can remain compliant, avoid excessive fines, and keep your tenants safe.
Why California Passed Balcony Inspection Laws
California’s balcony inspection laws were enacted to ensure the safety of residents, tenants, and visitors across the state. While building codes have been updated repeatedly to meet the safety requirements of our present-day buildings, some building elements have been left in the past. Until these new laws were enacted, building elements like balconies, stairs, decks, and porches were not required to meet rigorous safety standards.
In 2015, there was a tragic balcony collapse in Berkeley, California that took the lives of six people and injured seven others. This event spurred the creation of stricter balcony inspection laws.
What followed were two Senate Bills (SB271 and SB326) that passed in 2018 and 2019, respectively. These two bills work together to make sure that all balconies in California are safe for residents, tenants, and guests to use.
Understanding Senate Bill 721 (SB721)
The Balcony Inspection Law, California Senate Bill 721 requires all balconies, stairways, and similar structures in multi-family buildings with three or more units to be inspected. When the bill was first passed, property owners had until January 1, 2025, to complete the inspection. But, on September 28, 2024, California’s Governor approved Bill AB2579, extending the initial balcony inspection deadline to January 1, 2026.
The bill requires building owners to complete a safety inspection on all Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE), including balconies, porches, stairways, decks, walkways, and other elevated structures more than 6 feet above the ground.
The inspection must be completed by an engineer, architect, or general contractor with an “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license and a minimum of five years of experience. They’ll inspect 15% of your structural components, checking for dry rot, flashing issues, and overall structural integrity. This may involve making small openings in stucco to visually inspect what’s underneath, so keep that in mind when planning your inspection.
Key requirements of SB721 include:
- The first SB721 inspection must be done by January 1, 2026.
- Hazardous conditions must be reported to the local building department.
- Property owners have 120 days to complete repairs.
- Local building departments can levy penalties of up to $500 per day for non-compliant facilities.
- Re-inspections are required every six years.
- Inspection reports must be made available to officials upon request.
- Property owners are responsible for ongoing maintenance.
Also, as a property owner, be sure to find out if the inspector will need access to the property. If they do, you must give your tenants 24 hours’ notice.
Understanding Senate Bill 326 (SB326)
Senate Bill 326 (SB326) is very similar to SB721, but it applies to condominium units and other structures instead of covering multi-family buildings. SB326 aims to prevent deck and balcony collapse.
Key requirements of SB326 include:
- A 15% random sample inspection of EEEs.
- Assessing the current condition and projected lifespan of load-bearing components.
- Visual inspections by licensed architects or engineers every nine years.
- Initial inspections must occur by January 1, 2026.
- Property owners have 120 days to complete repairs to all affected EEEs.
- Local building departments can impose fees for non-compliant facilities.
Who Can Perform California Balcony Inspections?
The qualifications needed to perform inspections differ based on the property type and corresponding law.
As mentioned above, for SB721, licensed architects, engineers, or general contractors with an “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license and a minimum of five years of experience can conduct the inspections. They must inspect any structure extending beyond exterior walls, with a walking surface over 6 feet high, and constructed with wood or wood-based frames, including:
- Balconies
- Stairways
- Porches
- Support railings
- Walkways
- Entry structures
For SB326 inspections, a licensed architect or engineer must conduct the inspection. They must inspect any structure elevated at least 6 feet above the ground and associated waterproofing elements, including:
- Elevated walkways
- Decks
- Balconies
- Patios
What are the Consequences of Noncompliance with California’s Balcony Inspection Laws?
If January 1, 2026, rolls around and you have not had your initial inspection on your property, this can lead to penalties. Under SB271, property owners who fail to have an inspection can face fines ranging from $100 to $500 per day. Any issues not repaired within 120 days can result in daily fines and property liens.
SB326 allows local building departments to impose fees and liens for noncompliance and can recover the enforcement costs. You could ultimately lose your insurance coverage if you don’t move forward with the inspection and require repairs.
Are You Buying a Condo?
If you’re picking up a condo conversion that was completed after January 1, 2019, this inspection must be done before closing escrow. So, don’t skip that step during your due diligence.
So, What Does it Boil Down To?
We understand that having more regulations to follow can feel like a pain. No one wants to jump through more hoops, especially if they’re used to the lighter regulations of single-family rentals.
But this one? It’s crucial.
If a balcony collapse can be prevented and save lives, that’s a no-brainer. Plus, you’re only required to do this every six years. That’s not too bad in the grand scheme of things.
For those of you considering moving up to the multifamily game, just know that it comes with added responsibilities like this. But if you stay on top of your stuff, hire good people, and follow the rules, you’ll be fine. Plenty of qualified contractors can handle these inspections, so don’t sweat it. Just get it done and avoid the scramble—and fines—when the 2026 deadline hits.
Never Miss an Important Deadline with Good Life Property Management
At Good Life Property Management, we believe life should be enjoyed, not spent sweating the small stuff. That’s why we set out to make property management easy. We take care of everything from finding the right tenants to maintaining your property—all while staying up-to-date on new laws that affect how you run your rental property.
We care about you, your property, and your tenant. And we do it all so you can Live the Good Life.
Schedule a call to speak with one of our Good Life experts.
California Balcony Inspection Law FAQs
What are the requirements for balcony inspection in California?
Under the new law, SB721, California balconies must be inspected by a licensed architect, engineer, or general contractor with an “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license and a minimum of five years of experience before January 1, 2026. All repairs must be completed within 120 days.
What is the balcony law in California in 2025?
SB271 and SB326, also known as the California Balcony Inspection Laws, require regular inspections of balconies, walkways, and decks on multi-family housing properties in California. An initial inspection is required by January 1, 2026.
How much does a balcony inspection cost in California?
While every inspector will have different prices, an average visual inspection would cost $300-500 per balcony, deck, or other elevated features. Depending on the size of your property and the number of elevated elements, you can expect to pay between $2,000-$20,000.
Who is responsible for maintaining a balcony?
The building owner, corporation, or property management company working on behalf of the building owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the balcony.
Steve Welty
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